While rewashing my DD today, I remembered that I never shared these with the community that taught me so much. This was my first full vehicle treatment with a PC 7424 (I've only used it for spot repairs). The Sport Trac has 40,000 miles, is about 3.5 years old, and as I note below, has been detailed by a detailer that I will never go to again.
Everything I know I learned from reading so much here. In the steps below, you'll see that Zaino habits are hard to break. In addition, the text is from a post at another web site, so don't mind the change in tense.
Before:
Note my former detailer's rotary marks--so much for a "professional" shop.
Not shown were clearcoat scuffs and paint transfer on the front and rear bumpers from parking in the greater Philadelphia area. They were no match for the PC.
It's dirty there, but even washed, the swirl marks were horrendous. I have a garage at school, but no time to buff and the apartment lease clearly states "no car washing" in the garage. So, I would take it to a local detailer who did an okay job--except that he used filler, and not true cutting/water-based, polishes. Thus, after a few washes, all the swirls came back. When you want something done right, you do it yourself--because I am home for a little while, I broke out the Porter Cable and my cutting polishes. Well, I started on Saturday. I should be finished tomorrow (with the mop-up detailing). [EDIT--this took me about six days to perfect. The finish truly was a mess.]
The process (I went body panel by body panel, starting with the hood [stupid], roof [should have started here], front fenders, front, driver's side, passenger side, rear. I went panel by panel because this was a multi-day project and I did not want to have to rewash areas. Instead, I perfected it piece by piece.
(a) Wash with Dawn.
(b) Rinse.
(c) Wipe down with denatured alcohol (takes off sap, of which I had a ton).
(d) Wash with Dawn.
(e) Rinse.
(f) Use Dawn soapy water and clay bar body panel.
(g) Wash with Dawn.
(h) Rinse.
(i) Dry with microfibers.
(j) Apply
Sonus SFX-2 moderate cutting polish with Porter Cable 7424 and Sonus SFX-2 white pad.
(k) Wipe residue.
(l) Apply Sonus SFX-2 moderate cutting polish again (it was badly swirled and needed two shots).
(m) Wipe residue.
(n) Apply Sonus
SFX-3 light [final] polish/glaze with Porter Cable 7424 and Sonus SFX-3 blue pad.
(o) Wipe residue.
(p) Apply Jeff's Werkstatt Acrylic Prime sealant.
(q) Remove residue.
(r) Apply Jeff's Werkstatt Acrylic Jett spray sealant.
(s) Buff out with microfibers.
(t) Everything else--303
Aerospace Protectant on the bed cover, mirrors, all rubber, splash guards, tires, etc.
After:
Not bad for a ride that I take on single-lane roads to our cabin, through brush (the cabin road is quite overgrown in the summer), on the beach at Assateague Island, Maryland, etc. Now, the problem is that I hate to take it anywhere where I'll ruin my nearly perfect finish!
great work. nice shine.
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